FIFA’s ethics committee is also investigating the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals to Russia and Qatar.

And in the United States, prosecutors have indicted 27 current or former FIFA officials, including eight former executive committee members, over allegations that they ran bribery schemes connected to the sale of television rights for soccer competitions. Twelve people and two sports marketing companies have been convicted.

It would appear that we’re well and truly in the end game now.

Sepp Blatter to speak at 10am. If he's banned from all football activity, what's he going to talk about? The weather?

“Mr Blatter’s actions did not show commitment to an ethical attitude, failing to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA’s regulatory framework to the extent applicable to him and demonstrating an abusive execution of his position as president of FIFA, hence violating article 13 of the FCE (general rules of conduct),” it states.

“Mr Platini failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing unawareness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities.

“His actions did not show commitment to an ethical attitude, failing to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA’s regulatory framework to the extent applicable to him and demonstrating an abusive execution of his position as vice-president of FIFA and member of the FIFA executive committee.”

Outgoing FIFA president Blatter and UEFA president Platini had claimed the payment had been made in 2011 following a verbal agreement between the pair when the Frenchman worked for Blatter from 1998 to 2002.

The explanation was rejected as “not convincing” by the ethics committee, who added that the evidence has not been sufficient to secure charges of corruption.

The pair were already serving a 90-day suspension when today’s judgement was passed down owing the ongoing investigation over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.02 million) payment by FIFA to Platini in 2011. Both men denied any wrongdoing.The ethics inquiry began in the wake of the Swiss attorney general’s decision to open criminal proceedings against Blatter over the payment to Platini. The office is also investigating the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals to Russia and Qatar.

REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

We’ll be hearing from Sepp Blatter in less than an hours time, as he faces the media in Zurich.And if this from the BBC’s man in the know Richard Conway is correct, then it would appear that the Swiss is not taking today’s ruling lying down…https://twitter.com/richard_conway/status/678861290102738944

Blatter and Platini’s bans come into force immediately and in Blatter’s case at least mark the end of his career in football administration.

The 79-year-old Swiss has been head of FIFA since 1998 and was serving out his final months before stepping down ahead of February’s presidential election.

Platini had been tipped to succeed Platini in the top job and had been in charge of UEFA since 2007. It will be a long way back for the Frenchman if he still harbours those ambition.